USS George Washington (CVN 73)

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Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on March 22, 2014 at 2:40pm

Don't ever feel like you have to apologize for a post like this...we try to offer help and support regardless of the situation.  Glad things are working out- though I was kinda worried last night that your sailor might have been the victim of a nefarious plot!  This is one of the issues we face with our sailors stationed around the globe-- when they need support and help we are often not in a position to step up and do much save for offering moral support and long-distance advice!  And maybe a credit card number!!!!!!!! 

Comment by Jim on March 22, 2014 at 2:27pm

I have more information than I did last night while this was going down.  The MC, apparently, did nothing wrong.  My son has remained 'grateful' to this MC during the entire process and stated that this particular MC was a help to him.  As it turns out, he did not pay the MC directly.  The MC simply puts guys that want to go home in touch with a "Japanese Guy" (how my son refers to him). 'Japanese Guy's wife works at the airport and is able to get our sons and daughters cheap tickets home.  This 'Japanese Guy', after getting my son's destination info, instructed him to pay an amount via PayPal.  Which was good.  If this fell through, he would have a good record and some recourse.  And the amount was good.  Round trip tickets, as my son and myself had priced over the months, from Tokyo to JAX are about $1500.  My son was instructed to pay $738 total.  So, he did pay a cheap price.

The problem came when the 'Japanese Guy' and his wife failed to purchase the tickets.  My son took the 10:00 bus to the airport as instructed by MC.  He sent several messages to the MC and emails to 'Japanese Guy' with no response until about 15:30.  That is when 'Japanese Guy' replied to an email apologizing, stating that he was at a function at his children's school.  'Japanese Guy' got in touch with his wife, who THEN began purchasing my son's tickets at about 16:30.  It all worked out in the end.

But, with the (literally) LAST MINUTE tickets, she got him a flight from Tokyo to Dallas at 1900 hrs.  He was finally able to actually get his tickets in hand at 1815hrs.  He will be landing in Dallas about 90-minutes from now.  He has a 15-hour layover in Dallas before making his 2-hour flight home to JAX.  So, he will be here tomorrow morning.

So, he has been in the air for 9-hours now and is on his way.  But, with the level of frustration, it may have been easier to just pay $1500 and get the tickets himself instantly.  I guess there was some sort of communication breakdown between 'Japanese Guy' and 'Mrs. Japanese Guy'.  I've never met either.  But, having been married for 20+ years myself, I can relate. 

I considered (for a moment) driving out to Dallas and just picking him up there to getting this trip over with.  But, at 1000+ miles, he wouldn't have been home any sooner.  I am looking forward to picking him up tomorrow morning.  He had asked me to not tell his brothers, mother, and grandparents that he is coming home.  So, they will be surprised at lunch after church tomorrow morning.

Thank you for all your support.  I apologize for taking up space on this thread with our problems.  But, as a Navy Dad, I felt extreme frustration for my son's predicament and felt helpless to assist him.  

Comment by NavyDads Co-Admin, Gary on March 22, 2014 at 11:45am

Jim hoping everything turns out well sorry to here about what's happened with the entire process..

Comment by Jim on March 22, 2014 at 12:33am

Thanks for the tip.  Apparently no USO at the airport.  I verified his answer via USO website.  They apparently have office on the base, but not the airport.  Cash. He is now going up to individual airline counters (with lines) to ask if they have a ticket for him.   

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on March 22, 2014 at 12:16am

is there a USO at the airport?  if so he need to head there.....and did he give that guy cash or does he have some sort of proof that he took the money.....

Comment by Jim on March 21, 2014 at 11:49pm

I'm going to vent my frustration here on 'Navy Dads' because I am so frustrated and have nobody to talk too about it and I am worried about my 19 year-old son.  I wish I were in Japan to help him sort it out.

My son has been on the GW/Yokosuka for a year now.  He wanted to come home during his 2 brothers' spring break for his first leave.  He put in for his leave in December 2013.  Then, in January, he was told that he will be 'cranking'.  In Mid February (2.5 months after request), he was told that his leave wouldn't be 'sent up' because he is cranking.  He was given some guidance by some experienced personnel who advised that this is not policy.  This error was corrected about 2 weeks later when he was then told just last week that, yes, his leave is approved to begin on 22March (today).  

He had been in contact with some Master Chief since the time he was told that his leave is approved.  This MC had another contact to get cheap airfare home.  This Master Chief accepted money from him for the airline ticket home to Jacksonville, FL.  My son was told that they will give him his flight details a day or two before he leaves.  As of last night, he hadn't heard anything.  The Master Chief said, "just take the 1000hrs bus to the airport and we'll get the info to you."  So, he packed, got up, got on the 1000 bus to the airport.  It is now 1400hrs and he still has NO flight information.  He has been trying since this morning to get someone to respond to his messages to no avail.  He is sitting in the airport and doesn't know which airline has his ticket.  He has no flight time.  No reservation number.  And nowhere to turn.  He doesn't know if 'his flight' is leaving now or at 1800hrs.  He may have already missed it.

I have never been to Japan and I have never been in the Navy.  So, I have no experience nor any concept of how things work in either world.  If he was in the States, I could help, give him some guidance, or make a phone call for him.  But, I feel helpless as a father and feel for my 19 year-old son sitting in that Tokyo airport alone with no assistance.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 15, 2013 at 6:52am

"Mail Call, Mail Call" Aboard George Washington

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chris Cavagnaro

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- The post office aboard the U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) consists of only a small room with eight Sailors whose primary mission has a huge impact on the overall morale of the entire ship.

Sailors eagerly wait every day the announcement of "mail call, mail call" over the ship's announcement system. It's during this time that thousands of pounds of mail are sorted by post office personnel to later be distributed to the ship's crew by departmental mail orderlies.

"We always know it's going to be a long day when we get a shipment of mail," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Timothy Henderson, from Champaign, Ill. "On average, we receive 4,000 pounds of mail per delivery. This is about twice the amount of mail that any other aircraft carrier receives and we have to process everything just as quickly as it comes in. It's definitely a non-stop, all day evolution"

The process of delivering mail to more than 5,000 Sailors starts when the mail is transported aboard via C-2A Greyhounds from the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 30, Detachment 5.

"Once the mail is flown onto the ship, we all form a working party to bring the mail down to the post office, scan each piece of mail into the system and finally separate the mail into each department's box number for them to come collect," said Henderson. "We know how important it is for everyone aboard to get their mail. There's no better feeling than receiving a care package from a family member or something you've ordered online."

Henderson said he and other Sailors assigned to the post office are constantly asked about mail shipments from just about everyone on the ship.

"We're by far the most popular people on the ship on days when we get mail," said Logistics Specialist Seaman Recruit Vincent Snyder, from Fayetteville, N.C. "It's not an easy job to take care of the morale of more than 5,000 individuals."

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on November 11, 2013 at 4:25am

All USS George Washington Sailors need to report on board no later than 12 Nov. before the following times:

0800 E4 and BELOW

0900 E5 and E6

1000 E7 and ABOVE

Please contact your departmental duty officer for further information.

Comment by Ric Frost on October 14, 2013 at 8:52am

Proud doesn't even begin to describe what I am feeling about my son!

Comment by NavyDads Admin (Paul) on August 24, 2013 at 8:34pm

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